SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 239 



Aside from the interest attached to these lectures, we may congratulate 

 ourselves in having the friendship of the gentlemen, as the trouble and 

 expense incurred by them in our behalf evidenced. We also had the 

 pleasure of a visit from the Rev. Mr. Gass, who came from his home in 

 the north part of the State to take charge of some mound work, of 

 which limited time prevented the completion. 



The demands on the time of the Curator have been constant and 

 arduous — the valuable collections sent us by that veteran collector, 

 Capt. W. P. Hall, alone requiring an amount of time and labor in their 

 arrangement that can be appreciated only by those who have watched 

 the interesting process. In this connection we naturally bring to mind 

 our obligations to Captain Hall, whose disinterested services have placed 

 in our rooms a collection that will always be a source of pleasure and 

 profitable study. 



The reports of the Secretary indicate an average attendance. 



The Librarian's report shows large and valuable additions, and con- 

 tains suggestions that merit the attention of the association. 



The Treasurer's duties have been unusually exacting, and the Acad- 

 emy is under obligations for their faithful and efficient discharge. 



The Publication Committee report the completion of the third vol- 

 ume of the Academy's proceedings. As the work on this volume was 

 completed during the previous year, it should be so credited. This 

 volume will be our most valued one, and well deserves the care given 

 to its production. It would be fitting for me to refer more fully to the 

 work of the Publication Committee, but, when I consider the labor, 

 anxiety, and expense that each volume occasions, words seem idle. 



There is yet a matter in connection with the endowment fund sub- 

 scription unfinished : by vote of the association a subscriber of fifty 

 dollars is entitled to life membership. The matter of life membership 

 certificates should be attended to as early as possible. 



At the last regular meeting of the society some changes in the con- 

 stitution and by-laws were made. With one exception, these changes 

 were of minor importance. The article of the constitution placing 

 money received for life membership to the credit of a building fund 

 was changed so as to place all such money in an endowment fund. 

 The importance of this change and the desirabihty of increasing this 

 fund admit of no question. It should be the settled policy of the 

 Academy to add to the fund each year, and to so shape its affairs that 

 debt may not be incurred. 



While I have but slightly mentioned the work of the association in 

 the direction of its scientific interests, the detailed reports of the Cu- 

 rator and others indicate that progress has been made; and, judging 

 from the active interest shown by the members in their attendance at 

 the meetings, and from the knowledge that the field of labor is prac- 

 tically untouched, I hope for a growth in the future that will equal 

 that of the past. And now, while my term of office has but a few 

 minutes to run, I wish, both as an officer of the Academy and in my 

 individual capacity, to give thanks — first, to the gentlemen of the citi- 

 zens' meeting who argued so effectually and worked so success- 



